Former Mets manager Valentine ‘in play’ with Red Sox: source  —  MILWAUKEE — The soap opera that has engulfed the Red Sox has suddenly created this possibility: that Bobby Valentine will be Boston's next manager.  —  A person involved in the process described Valentine as “in play” …

New deal shows MLB learned lesson  —  MILWAUKEE  —  If the cancellation of the 1994 World Series is part of Bud Selig's legacy, then the lesson he learned is an even more important part.  —  Baseball's new five-year collective-bargaining agreement is a tribute not just to the commissioner …

Twins To Sign Ryan Doumit  —  The Twins agreed to sign Ryan Doumit to a one-year deal, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick and Doumit's agency, Sosnick/Cobbe Sports (Twitter links).  The deal, which is pending a physical, is worth $3MM and includes performance bonuses, according to Crasnick.

Ramos returns to Venezuela after brief DC trip  —  Catcher deemed to be in ‘terrific shape’ following kidnapping ordeal  —  WASHINGTON — Wilson Ramos walked through the hallways of Nationals Park into the office of general manager Mike Rizzo on Friday morning with the same smile and sense …

Yankees GM Brian Cashman sleeps in Times Square to raise awareness for homeless kids  —  Doing his best to help out Covenant House  —  Yankees Senior Vice President and General Manager Brian Cashman takes part in the Covenant House CEO Solidarity Sleepout.

The Great Debaters  —  Ricky Nolasco  —  Ricky Nolasco is a player I—like many fantasy owners familiar with DIPS—have targeted in fantasy drafts over the past few years.  I owned him in both Tout Wars and Yahoo! Friends & Family last season, which, as others who owned him know, did not turn out very well.

Astros sold, will depart NL for AL West in 2013  —  MILWAUKEE — Baseball owners have unanimously approved the sale of the Houston Astros from Drayton McLane to Jim Crane.  The Astros will move from the NL Central to the AL West beginning in the 2013 season, giving each league 15 teams.

Hanrahan open to idea of contract extension  —  Right-hander eligible for salary arbitration prior to 2012 season  —  PITTSBURGH — If the value of a closer weren't already well-defined, it became even more so last week, when Jonathan Papelbon inked a four-year deal with the Phillies worth just over $50 million.

Kershaw is the winner of NL Cy Young Award  —  Dodgers lefty wins 21, pitching Triple Crown in third full season  —  The first time Joe Torre saw Clayton Kershaw pitch, he compared him to Sandy Koufax.  On Thursday, the talented young left-hander took his biggest step yet toward proving …

Francoeur happy to have Sanchez aboard in KC  —  KANSAS CITY — Even though Royals right fielder Jeff Francoeur will miss having Melky Cabrera next to him in center field next season, he feels the addition of pitcher Jonathan Sanchez is a plus.  —  “I like it,” Francoeur said.

Amaro: Phillies aren't looking to trade Hamels  —  MILWAUKEE - The caveat was necessary for a man who has dealt away aces and top prospects, players thought untouchable - a label that, truthfully, does not exist in baseball and certainly not in Ruben Amaro Jr.'s mind.